Nasal canula cover

ABSTRACT

A protective cover for a nasal cannula completely encloses the two prongs of the nasal cannula when properly installed. This protective cover will keep the nasal cannula from contacting potentially unclean surfaces when the nasal cannula is not in use. An optional UV light may be present in the protective cover to provide UV cleaning of the nasal cannula prongs when the cover is closed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent Ser. No.14/543,541, filed Nov. 17, 2014, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 12/126,293, filed May 23, 2008 and issued asU.S. Pat. No. 8,897,919 on Nov. 18, 2014, the contents of which areherein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to delivery systems for patients takingoxygen or other fluids or gases through a nasal cannula. Morespecifically, the present invention relates to a protective storage ofthe nasal cannula while not in use.

It is known that a nasal cannula is a device used to deliversupplemental oxygen to a person through the nostrils. This deviceconsists of a plastic tube, connected to an oxygen source, and a set oftwo prongs which engage the nostrils of the wearer. Oxygen is deliveredthrough holes in the prongs. The tubing is kept in place by fitting itaround the patient's ears.

Nasal cannulas are manufactured and transported in clean conditions soas to keep the area of the prongs clean. Standard operating procedureamong medical professionals dictates that when a nasal cannula comes incontact with any unclean or unsanitary surface, it must be discarded. Itis also known that to keep the nasal cannula from becoming soiled whennot in use, the wearer or caregiver will typically hang it on a bed postor hook. Unfortunately, the natural coiling and uncoiling properties ofthe plastic tube can cause it to fall even when it appears to be safelysecured.

A number of accessory devices for use with nasal cannulas have beenproposed. By way of example, Published U.S. Patent Application2007/0270736 to Giarrocco-Brettner shows bulb syringe improvement. Thedevice partially covers a nasally inserted portion of the bulb syringe.In addition, it prevents contact between the nasally inserted portion ofthe bulb syringe and an unclean table surface. The device does not,however, provide full coverage over a two prong nasal cannula.

In addition, a number of other accessories for nasal cannulas are shownin the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,026,811 to Settle shows aprotective cover for the tubing of a nasal cannula which providescomfort for the patient's ear. Published U.S. Patent Application2005/0236001 to Williams shows a bridle system which clamps around thetubes exiting a patient's nose. However, the prior art does not show acover for use in protecting the nasal cannula.

As can be seen, there is a need for a device that protects a nasalcannula from becoming soiled while not in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a method for protecting prongsof a nasal cannula when not in use comprises placing the prongs of thenasal cannula into a space inside a nasal cannula cover; directing nasalcannula tubing into openings formed on opposite sides of the nasalcannula cover; and closing the nasal cannula cover to secure the prongswithin the space.

In another aspect of the present invention, a nasal cannula covercomprises a top member; a bottom member hingedly connected to the topmember; an enclosed space disposed inside the top member and bottommember when the top member is closed against the bottom member; aplurality of rib slots disposed inside top member and the bottom member;and ribs disposed in corresponding ones of the plurality of rib slots inthe top member and the bottom member on each side of the nasal cannulacover.

In a further aspect of the present invention, a nasal cannula covercomprises an enclosed space receiving nasal cannula prongs of a nasalcannula; and a rotation limiting device inside the enclosed spacepreventing the nasal cannula prongs from touching an inside surface ofthe nasal cannula cover.

The present invention relates to a protective cover for a nasal cannula.The device can completely enclose the two prongs of the nasal cannulawhen properly installed. This protective cover can keep the nasalcannula from contacting the floor, bed sheets, or other potentiallyunclean surfaces when the nasal cannula is not in use. Multipleembodiments are described. Generally, the device includes two componentswhich are pivotally attached together. The hinge can be of any type, forinstance, a living hinge or a pinned hinge, and optionally the twohalves may be biased toward each other or away from each other, forinstance, by a spring.

In one embodiment, the two halves are substantially similar to eachother, and both are clamshell shaped. The interior of the clamshellshaped covers contain a fixturing rib for contacting the two sides ofthe nasal cannula base tube. In operation, the patient need only placethe cannula base tube on the fixturing rib of the bottom cover half. Thepatient can then close the other cover, which will secure the cannulabase tube without contacting the cone shaped prongs—which are thenasally inserted portions.

In another embodiment, the first half is elongated to match the sideprofile shape of the nasal cannula. The patient need only insert thecone shaped prongs into the first half. The first half has a base tubeopening with half-moon shaped clips. The half-moon shaped clips attachto the cannula base tube. Finally, a hinge attached door is closed toseal the nasal cannula.

In another embodiment, the cover includes two shells which when closedform an interior cylinder. When closed around the nasal cannula, thecover may rotate 360 degrees around the axis of the cannula base tube.While rotating the cover, no part of the nasally inserted cannula cantouch any part of the interior cylinder. In addition, the barrel covercontains two feed tube locators which abut against the cannula feed tubeshoulder, and prevent lateral sliding of the barrel cover.

All embodiments of the present invention can include leg protrusionswhich provide stability against rolling on horizontal surfaces.

There has thus been outlined some features of the invention in orderthat the detailed description thereof that follows may be betterunderstood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may bebetter appreciated. There are additional features of the invention thatwill be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter ofthe claims appended hereto. In as much as the foregoing has outlinedrather broadly the more pertinent and important features of the presentinvention in order that the detailed description of the invention thatfollows may be better understood so that the present contribution to theart can be more fully appreciated. Additional features of the inventionwill be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims ofthe invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art thatthe conception and the disclosed specific methods and structures may bereadily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structuresfor carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It shouldbe realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent methods andstructures do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention asset forth in the appended claims.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a nasalcannula cover which prevents the nasal cannula from contactingpotentially unclean surfaces when properly installed.

Yet another object of the present invention to provide a nasal cannulacover which is lightweight, durable and inexpensive to manufacture.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a nasalcannula cover that is maintained in a position for easy access by theuser or health professional when not installed over the prongs of thecannula.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a cannula cover thatis easy for the patient or health professional to install and removefrom the prongs of the cannula.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cannulacover with interior surfaces that will not contact un-clean surfaceswhile in the un-installed state.

It is further object of the present invention to provide a cannula coverhaving a UV light source configured to irradiate the prongs of the nasalcannula when stored within the cannula cover.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method forusing the herein described cannula cover to protect the prongs of anasal cannula from contacting potentially unclean surfaces.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdrawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1a is a top perspective view of a nasal cannula cover, with a nasalcannula placed therein, according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 1b is a side view of the nasal cannula cover of FIG. 1 a;

FIG. 1c top perspective view of a bottom shell of the nasal cannulacover of FIG. 1 a;

FIG. 2a is a top perspective view of a nasal cannula cover, with a nasalcannula placed therein, according to another exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2b is a top perspective view of a reusable slide-on cover of thenasal cannula cover of FIG. 2 a;

FIG. 2c is a side view of the reusable slide-on cover of FIG. 2 b;

FIG. 3a is a top perspective view of a nasal cannula cover, with a nasalcannula placed therein, according to another exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3b is a top perspective view of the nasal cannula cover of FIG. 3a;

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of a nasal cannula cover, with a nasalcannula placed therein, according to another exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 5a is a perspective view of a nasal cannula cover, closed, with anasal cannula placed therein, having a UV light source therewithin,according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5b is a perspective view of the nasal cannula cover of FIG. 5a inan opened configuration;

FIG. 5c is an exploded perspective view of the nasal cannula cover ofFIG. 5 a;

FIG. 6a is a top view of a nasal cannula cover disposed on nasal cannulatubing according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6b is a top view of the nasal cannula cover of FIG. 6a , opened toinsert and/or remove the nasal cannula prongs;

FIG. 6c is a top view of the nasal cannula cover of FIG. 6a , with thenasal cannula prongs encased therein;

FIG. 7a is a perspective view of a nasal cannula cover having an enddoor according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7b is a perspective view of the nasal cannula cover of FIG. 7a ,with the nasal cannula prongs encased therein;

FIG. 7c is a perspective view illustrating a latch and hinge structureon the nasal cannula cover of FIG. 7a which also could be used on thenasal cannula cover of FIG. 6 a;

FIG. 7d is a perspective view illustrating a rotation resistancestructure on the nasal cannula cover of FIG. 7a which also could be usedon the nasal cannula cover of FIG. 6 a;

FIG. 7e is a top view of the rotation resistance structure of FIG. 7 d;

FIG. 8a is a top view of a nasal cannula cover having a prong alignmentfeature;

FIG. 8b is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8B-8B of FIG. 8a ;and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a nasal cannula cover having a cut slotin a flexible membrane for insertion of a nasal cannula therein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplatedmodes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. Thedescription is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merelyfor the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention,since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a protectivecover for a nasal cannula. The device completely encloses the two prongsof the nasal cannula when properly installed. This protective cover willkeep the nasal cannula from contacting potentially unclean surfaces whenthe nasal cannula is not in use. An optional UV light may be present inthe protective cover to provide UV cleaning of the nasal cannula prongswhen the cover is closed.

Referring now to FIGS. 1a through 1c , a clamshell cover 1, or a cover,is shown. A nasal cannula 42 is composed of a cannula base tube 46 (alsoreferred to as prong base portion 46), and one or more cannula feedtubes 44, and one or more cone shaped prong 43. For reference, an axis40 of the distal end of the cannula 42 is defined as the centrallongitudinal axis of the cone shaped prong 43. Also, the cone shapedprong 43 has a distal end 47. Typically, the nasal cannula 42 willinclude two cone shaped prongs 43, as shown in the Figures.

The clamshell cover 1 includes a top cover component 2 and a bottomcover component 3. The top cover component 2 has a first opening 31 in abottom surface 32, and the bottom cover component 3 has a second opening33 in a top surface 34. The top cover component 2 can contact the bottomcover component 3 at a mating 35.

The top cover component 2 is attached to the bottom cover component 3 bya hinge 7, or connecting member, which among other alternatives, can beof the known living hinge or pinned hinge types. Referring to FIG. 1b ,the top cover component 2 is urged into contact with the bottom covercomponent 3 by a torsion spring 4, or biasing member. When in the closedposition seen in FIG. 1b , a latch 6, or holding member, holds the topcover component 2 in contact with bottom cover component 3.

As seen in FIG. 1c , the bottom cover component 3 can include one ormore base tube supports 5, or suspending member. The base tube support 5contacts the cannula base tube 46 of the nasal cannula 42 when the nasalcannula 42 is inside the clamshell cover 1. As seen, the base tubesupport 5 has a semi-circular prong top 8 which conforms to the shape ofthe cannula base tube 46. In addition, the base tube support 5 isattached to both the top cover component 2 and the bottom covercomponent 3, which provides for two contact surfaces on the cannula basetube 46.

Referring now to FIGS. 2a through 2c , a reusable slide-on cover 11includes a top cover 16 and a hinged closure 13. Both the top cover 16and the hinged closure 13 are made of semi-rigid plastic material. Thetop cover 16 has a base tube opening 12 which slides over the cannulafeed tube 44. When covering the nasal cannula 42, a half-moon shapedclip 14 can contact the cannula feed tube 44 such that light manualforce is required to press the reusable slide-on cover 11 over thecannula feed tube 44. The hinged closure 13 pivots freely on a closurehinge 15. Once the half-moon shaped clip 14 engages the cannula feedtube 44, the patient 45 can manually rotate the hinged closure 13 tocover the base tube opening 12.

Referring now to FIG. 3a , a barrel cover 21 includes a top half 25 anda bottom half 26. When the top half 25 and the bottom half 26 are matedtogether, the interior space forms an inner cylinder 23, or interiorspace, which provides clearance between the inner cylinder 23 and thecone shaped prong 43. The barrel cover 21 can rotate 360 degrees aroundthe longitudinal axis of the cannula base tube 46, and the clearancebetween the cone shaped prong 43 and the inner cylinder 23 will remain.The barrel cover 21 also has a feed tube locator 22 on two sides of thebottom half 26. The feed tube locator 22 contacts the cannula base tube46 on the nasal cannula 42. The feed tube locator 22 prevents lateralsliding in either direction along the longitudinal axis of the cannulabase tube 46. A tether attachment 29 releasably attaches tether members,which are elongated flaccid components that hang the barrel cover atvarious locations. The tether members can include various quickattachment devices including hooks, snaps, hook & loop, or buttons.

Referring now to FIG. 3b , the barrel cover 21 has one or more legprotrusion 24, or stabilizing member, which provide for setting barrelcover 21 on horizontal surfaces without freely rolling.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the barrel cover 21 can also have a base tubelocator 27, or guidance member, on two sides of the bottom half 26. Inaddition, base tube locator 27 can be added to the top half 25. The basetube locator 27 has, for example, a V-shape which contacts the cannulabase tube 46 on the nasal cannula 42. The base tube locator 27 allowsmisalignment of the nasal cannula 42 to be corrected as the top half 25approaches the bottom half 26. In addition, FIG. 4 shows a press to openlatch 28, or actuating member. The press to open latch 28 can beactuated by compressing the top half 25 with light finger force.

Referring to FIGS. 5a through 5c , in some embodiments, a nasal cannulacover 50 can include a top member 52 and a bottom member 54 that maycombine along their top edge 70 and bottom edge 72 to form an enclosedspace 56 therebetween. At opposing ends 58, 60 of at least one of thetop member 52 and the bottom member 54, openings 62 can be formed thatcommunicates with at least one of the top edge 70 and the bottom edge72. The openings 62 can be configured to permit the nasal cannula feedtubes 44 to be secured within the openings 62. In some embodiments, thediameter of the openings 62 may create a friction fit with the nasalcannula feed tubes 44 to help prevent the nasal cannula from slidingand/or rotating. In other embodiments, the diameter of the openings 62may be sized larger than the nasal cannula feed tubes 44 but smallerthan the prong base portion 63 of the nasal cannula, thereby preventingsliding of the nasal cannula within the cover, while allowing the prongsto rotate about 360 degrees within the cover 50. While FIG. 5B shows theopenings 62 closing on the prong base portion 63 of the nasal cannula,the cover 50 may have a width so that openings 62 close on the nasalcannula feed tubes 44.

Within the enclosed space 56, an ultraviolet (UV) light source 64 can bedisposed to emit UV photons toward the nasal cannula prongs 43. The UVlight source 64 may include a printed circuit board with the appropriatelogic to operate the UV lights. The UV light source 64 may be powered byan internal battery 66, or the nasal cannula cover 50 may include a port81 to permit an external power source to power the UV light source 64 orto recharge the battery 66. A charge port cover 82 may be disposed inthe port 81 when the port is not in use. In some embodiments, a chargingbase or docking station (not shown) may be used to power the UV lightsource 64 or charge the battery 66. The UV light source 64 can takevarious forms and emit UV light in various wavelengths. In someembodiments, the UV light source 64 can be light emitting diodes (LEDs)that emit UV photons. In some embodiments, the UV light source 64 emitsUV-C photons. In some embodiments, the UV light source 64 can bedisposed inside the nasal cannula cover. In other embodiments, the UVlight source 64 can be disposed within or on the exterior of the nasalcannula cover. Regardless of orientation, the UV light source 64 isconfigured to emit UV photons into the inside (the enclosed space) ofthe nasal cannula cover.

In some embodiments, the UV light source 64 can be disposed within abase station for holding and/or docking the nasal cannula cover. Thisbase station can have a power source, such as an electrical plug,battery, or the like, to power the UV light source. The base station caninclude a nasal cannula cover retention means to secure the cover to thebase station. The retention means may include, for example, one or morefrictionally fitting elements, one or more latches, catches, pins or thelike that may be released by pressing a release button, thereby freeingthe cover from the base station. A detector may be used to detect whenthe cover is placed in the base station. The detector may be a pushbutton depressed when the cover is secured in the base station or may bea cover sensing mechanism. Regardless of design, the detector may beused to control the UV light source disposed within the base station. Atimer may control the time that the UV light source is active. One ormore indicator lights may be disposed on the base station. The indicatorlights may include a light to identify when the detector detects thecover secured in the base station, a light to identify that the UV lightsource is in use, a light to show the nasal cannula UV light cycle iscomplete, and the like. The base station may further include a storagearea for storing and/or securing at least a portion of the nasal cannulatubing.

A transparent cover 68 can be disposed to cover the UV light source 64.The cover 68 may also provide a cover for the battery 66 to allowreplacement thereof. The cover 68 may also include filters and/orreflectors to scatter the UV photons or permit a predefined wavelengthof UV light to enter the enclosed space 56.

An open-closed detector 74 can be disposed in the nasal cannula cover 50to detect when the cover 50 is open or closed. The open-closed detector74 can be a mechanical detector that detects when the top edge 70 andthe bottom edge 72 meet, for example, or may detect rotation of a hingemember 76. In some embodiments, the open-closed detector 74 may be amagnetic detector that may magnetically determine when the cover 50 isopened or closed. The open-closed detector 74 may be used to power theUV light source 64 only when the cover 50 is closed.

In some embodiments, an on/off button 78 may be disposed on an externalsurface of the case 50 to turn on and off the UV light source 64. Theon/off button 78 may also activate a series of lights 84 that can showthe battery level, that scroll while the battery is charging, that showswhen the UV light is on, and other like functions. The on/off button 78may have its own light to indicate whether the UV light is on or off.

A view port (not shown) may be provided with a protective lens, forexample, to allow a user to look into the closed cover 50 to determineoperation of the UV light source 64. Typically, a user will see a glowwithin the view port when the UV light source 64 is operational

One or more feed tube locators, such as ribs 80, may be disposed withinthe cover 50. The ribs 80 can include cut-outs 86, typicallysemi-circular cut-outs, that can receive the nasal cannula tubing 44therein. Typically one rib 80 may be disposed in a rib slot 88 in thetop member 52 and another rib 80 may be disposed in a mating rib slot 88in the bottom member 54, where the two ribs 80 form a typically circularopening when the case 50 is closed. The ribs 80 may come in varioussizes to permit retention of various size tubing. Rib slots 88 may bedisposed along each side of the case 50 to permit positioning off theribs 80 in various slots 88. For example, six slots 88 may be disposedin each of the top member 52 and the bottom member 54, as shown in FIGS.5b and 5c . Of course, other number of rib slots 88 may be provided.Typically, two ribs 80 are used on a left side of the nasal cannulaprongs, and two ribs 80 are used on a right side of the nasal cannulaprongs. In some embodiments, the case 50 can be packaged with, forexample, six sets of ribs 80 (12 total ribs) and the user may select theappropriately sized rib 80 for their particular nasal cannula. In otherembodiments, the case 50 may be packaged with two sets of ribs 80, sizedfor particular brands of nasal cannulas. In some embodiments, the ribs80 may be sized to frictionally retain the nasal cannula tubing,prevention rotation of the nasal cannula prongs when the case is closed.In other embodiments, the ribs 80 may align the nasal cannula prongs toprevent contact with the inside surface of the cover when the cover isrotated substantially 360 degrees.

In some embodiments, the ribs 80 may also be used to act as a filter tofilter out harmful UV photons so that they do not leak out the openings62. For example, if a nasal cannula is not in place in the cover 50, thefilters will prevent UV photons from escaping out of the cover 50. Insome embodiments, the open-closed detector 74 may detect when the nasalcannula is within the cover 50 and only operate the UV light source 64when the nasal cannula is present. The ribs 80 may also help secure thenasal cannula within the cover 50 and help prevent the prongs 43 fromtouching the inside thereof.

In some embodiments, at least a portion of the surfaces inside the coverthat define the space 56 may be formed from a reflective materialdesigned to reflect UV photons. In this embodiment, the UV photons fromthe UV light source 64 may be reflected in various manners to helpensure complete coverage of the nasal cannula prongs 43 with UV photons,regardless of the configuration of the nasal cannula inside the cover50.

Similar to that described above with respect to FIG. 3a , the cover 50can include a tether attachment that releasably attaches tether members,which are elongated flaccid components that be used to hang the cover atvarious locations. The tether members can include various quickattachment devices including hooks, snaps, hook & loop, buttons or thelike.

While FIGS. 5a through 5c show the UV light source 64, this light sourcemay be provided in any of the above or below described nasal cannulacovers or any covers used to cover a nasal cannula.

Referring now to FIGS. 6a through 6c , a nasal cannula cover 90 caninclude a top member 92 that closes against a bottom member 94 with anenclosed space 96 therebetween. A hinge 98 may be used to permit openingand closing of the cover 90. In some embodiments, the hinge 98 may urgethe top and bottom members 92, 94 in a closed position that can beresiliently opened as desired.

As shown in FIG. 6b , a user may open the top member 92 from the bottommember 94 and slide the cover 90 to encase the nasal cannula prongs 100.The cover 90 may be slidably disposed on a portion of the nasal cannulatubing 102, as shown in FIG. 6a . In some embodiments, the top andbottom members 92, 94 may separate sufficiently to permit the cover 90to be applied to and removed from the tubing 102.

Referring to FIGS. 7a and 7b , a nasal cannula cover 110 may have ahinged component, such as a hinged door 112, on at least one end thereofto permit the prongs 114 of the nasal cannula to be stored inside thecover 110. The door 112 may have a slot 116 to permit the door to closewith the prongs 114 inside.

In some embodiments as shown in FIG. 7c , the cover 110 of FIG. 7a (orthe cover 90 of FIG. 6a ) may include a hinge 120 to permit a first side122 to be hingedly connected to a second side 124, thereby allowingremoval of the cover 110. A latch 126 may be used to hold the sides 122,124 in the closed configuration. The hinge 120 may take various formssuch as, for example, a living hinge. While FIG. 7c shows the sides 122,124 as being forward and rearward sides, the sides could open and closefrom top to bottom. In this embodiment, the door 112 may hinge from thetop of bottom, rather than the side, as shown.

Referring to FIGS. 7d and 7e , the cover 110 of FIG. 7a (or the cover 90of FIG. 6a ) may include a rotation limiting feature 130 that mayprevent rotation of the nasal cannula prongs 114. This rotation limitingfeature 130 may take various forms. For example, the rotation limitingfeature 130 may include protrusions on sides of the cover to pressagainst the base of the nasal cannula prongs 114 to prevent rotationthereof. This feature may keep the nasal cannula prongs 114 fromtouching the inside of the cover 110.

Referring now to FIGS. 8a and 8b , a nasal cannula cover 140 may includea cam surface 142 that helps guide the nasal cannula therein with thenasal cannula prongs 146 prevented from touching the inside of the cover140. The cam surface 142 can guide and align the nasal cannula prongs146 and a cam slot 148 can help prevent rotation of the nasal cannulaprongs 146 when disposed inside to cover 140. A door 144 can open andclose to allow insertion and removal of the nasal cannula prongs 146.This cam surface design may be applied to many of the above describeddesigns and the UV light source discussed above may be used in thisembodiment.

Referring to FIG. 9, in place of a door, as described above, the nasalcannula cover 150 can include a slit 152 cut in one or both sides toallow insertion of the nasal cannula prongs therein. The slit 152 can beresiliently opened by inserting the nasal cannula prongs inside thecover 150. The slit 152 can be designed to automatically close about thenasal cannula to protect the nasal cannula prongs stored therein.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates toexemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the following claims.

1. A nasal cannula cover comprising: a top member; a bottom memberhingedly connected to the top member; an enclosed space disposedinterior to the top member and the bottom member when the top member isclosed against the bottom member; at least one feed tube locatordisposed along a longitudinal axis of the nasal cannula cover; and anultraviolet light source generating ultraviolet photons within theenclosed space.
 2. The nasal cannula cover of claim 1, wherein the nasalcannula cover rotates substantially 360 degrees about the longitudinalaxis without a distal end of nasal cannula prongs disposed within thenasal cannula cover touching an inside surface of the nasal cannulacover.
 3. The nasal cannula cover of claim 1, wherein: the at least onefeed tube locator includes a plurality of rib slots disposed inside topmember and the bottom member and ribs disposed in corresponding ones ofthe plurality of rib slots in the top member and the bottom member oneach side of the nasal cannula cover.
 4. (canceled)
 5. The nasal cannulacover of claim 3, wherein the plurality of rib slots include ribs withvarying sized notches formed in one side thereof.
 6. A nasal cannulacover comprising: an enclosed space receiving nasal cannula prongs of anasal cannula; a rotation limiting device inside the enclosed spacepreventing a distal end of the nasal cannula prongs from touching aninside surface of the nasal cannula cover; and an ultraviolet lightsource configured to irradiate at least the nasal cannula prongs of thenasal cannula.
 7. The nasal cannula cover of claim 6, wherein therotation limiting member is located inside of the enclosed space. 8.(canceled)
 9. The nasal cannula cover of claim 6, further comprising atleast one protrusion extends into the enclosed space, the at least oneprotrusion presses against a prong base portion of the nasal cannula,thereby limiting rotation thereof and preventing a distal end of thenasal cannula prongs from touching the inside surface.
 10. The nasalcannula cover of claim 6, wherein the rotation limiting device includesa cam-shaped surface contoured to guide the nasal cannula prongs into acentral region of the nasal cannula cover.
 11. The nasal cannula coverof claim 10, further comprising a cam slot receiving a prong baseportion of the nasal cannula, the slot shaped to limit rotation of thenasal cannula prongs and prevent the nasal cannula prongs from touchingthe inside surface.
 12. A nasal cannula cover comprising: a top member;a bottom member hingedly connected to the top member; an enclosed spacedisposed interior to the top member and the bottom member when the topmember is closed against the bottom member; at least one feed tubelocator disposed along a longitudinal axis of the nasal cannula cover,wherein the nasal cannula cover rotates substantially 360 degrees aboutthe longitudinal axis without a distal end of nasal cannula prongsdisposed within the nasal cannula cover touching an inside surface ofthe nasal cannula cover.
 13. The nasal cannula cover of claim 12,wherein: the at least one feed tube locator includes a plurality of ribslots disposed inside top member and the bottom member and ribs disposedin corresponding ones of the plurality of rib slots in the top memberand the bottom member on each side of the nasal cannula cover.
 14. Thenasal cannula cover of claim 12, further comprising an ultraviolet lightsource generating ultraviolet photons within the enclosed space.
 15. Thenasal cannula cover of claim 13, wherein the plurality of rib slotsinclude ribs with varying sized notches formed in one side thereof. 16.The nasal cannula cover of claim 13, further comprising a rotationlimiting device inside the enclosed space preventing a distal end of thenasal cannula prongs from touching an inside surface of the nasalcannula cover
 17. The nasal cannula cover of claim 1, further comprisinga rotation limiting device inside the enclosed space preventing a distalend of the nasal cannula prongs from touching an inside surface of thenasal cannula cover
 18. The nasal cannula cover of claim 13, furthercomprising at least one protrusion extends into the enclosed space, theat least one protrusion presses against a prong base portion of thenasal cannula, thereby limiting rotation thereof and preventing a distalend of the nasal cannula prongs from touching the inside surface. 19.The nasal cannula cover of claim 1, further comprising at least oneprotrusion extends into the enclosed space, the at least one protrusionpresses against a prong base portion of the nasal cannula, therebylimiting rotation thereof and preventing a distal end of the nasalcannula prongs from touching an inside surface of the enclosed space.